The Sagebrush Capital: A Yakima Valley Success Story

A prominent citizen of North Yakima, and a director of the First National Bank, said: 'When I came to the Yakima valley I had an idea that this was only a stock country, and brought with me twelve cows and a horse and wagon, and these comprised all my worldly possessions. Today they account me worth $40,000. After considerable experience in stock, I turned my attention to the raising of hops. I sent to Exra Meeker, in Puyallup Valley, for some hop roots in 1874 to try the experiment of raising them here. I planted two acres and they far exceeded my expectations. Since then, I have enlarged my yard from year to year, and now have ten acres in old hops. As to quality, they are pronounced to be quite as good as the King County river hops. I do not doubt that when our hops become well known they will command an extra price over the hops of any other countries. In the matter of wheat, our land here is mostly sagebrush land, but our soil is rich and strong. The theory of some people here is that our sagebrush land needs irrigating; but I believe that while irrigation in some instances would be advantageous, our people place too much dependence on it. A large part of our sagebrush land which some people believe requires water, and will not produce grain without it, will, in fact, raise good crops of wheat if you plow in the fall and sow early in the spring.'